Machine for operating upon soles



Dec. 3, 1929. A. D. WILLHAUCK 1,737,745

MACHINE' FOR OPERA'IING UPON SOLES Filed Aug. 9 1928 igrl.

56 62 //\/v TEAL Fig.5. /0

Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUGUSTUS D. WILLHAUCK, F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, As'sICNoR To UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OE PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OE NEW JERSEY MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON SOLES Application filed August 9, 1928. Serial No. 298,601.

This invention relates to machines for operating upon soles and is herein illustrated as embodied in a sole channeling machine of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,668,081, granted May 1, 1928, upon application of W. C. Meyer. -The machine disclosed in the patent referred to is designed for channeling outsoles for McKay-sewed shoes but the present invention is by no means limited to embodiment in machines of this particular type or to use in channeling soles.

One object of the present invention is to provide a machine, adapted for use in channeling soles, which will be so organized that it may be relied upon to feed a sole at as high speed when operating upon relatively sharp- 1y curved portions of the sole margin, for example, around the toe or along the inside shank portions of the sole, as when operating upon comparatively straight or less sharply curved portions of the-sole margin, without danger of mutilating the sole.

To the accomplishment of this object, one feature of the invention consists in the provision, in a machine for operating upon soles, of an improved feed wheel comprising a plurality of feeding sections one of which is arranged to engage the outer marginal portion of a sole close to the sole edge and is driven throughout the operation of the machine, while another section ofthe feed wheel, capable of turning movement relatively to said driven section, is arranged to engage thesole margin farther from the edge of the sole than said driven section.

As herein illustrated, an improved feed wheel constructed and arranged as above mentioned is employed as the lower feed wheel of a machine designed for channeling outsoles for McKay-sewed shoes. The illustrated feed wheel comprises five peripherally toothed sole-feeding disks arranged side-byside forengageinent with the marginal portion at the flesh side of an unattached outsole. The innermost of the disks constituting the illustrated feed wheel is arranged to engage the sole margin closest to the edge of thesole and is fixedly secured upon a feed wheel shaft. The other feed wheel disks are mounted upon a sleeve which surrounds the feed wheel shaft and is normally clutched to the shaft so as to turn therewith. The disks on the sleeve are illustrated as severally connected therewith by one-way, ratohet= and-pawl clutch mechanism enabling the disks to turn relatively to, the shaft in one direction at differentspeeds faster than the speed of rotation of the feed wheel shaft, thus permitting the disks to accommodate themselves to the swinging feed movement of a sole during operation by the machine upon those portions of the sole margin where the edge of the sole is in the form of a reentrant curve, as for example along the inside of the shanl. \Vl1en operating, in the illustrated machine, along the toe or other portion of a sole margin the edge of which is outwardly curved, the feed disk-carrying sleeve may be unclutched from the feed wheel shaft by the operator, thereby enabling the feed disks mounted on the sleeve to turn fo'rwardlyat different speeds slower than that of theposi tively driven feed wheel disk which engages the outermost portion of the sole margin. lVhen the sleeve is unclutched from the feed wheel shaft the sole will be fed solely by engagement of the positively driven feed disk with the outermost portion of the sole margin while the other disks, each being free to turn relatively to the feed wheel shaft, will turn idly by reason of their engagement with the sole and at speeds determined by the speeds at which the respective portions of the sole inargin are being advanced past the channel mife.

Thus the illustrated feed disks accommodate themselves to the swinging movement of asole necessary to feed the toe orother outwardly curved edge portion of a sole past the operating instrumentalities of the machine. Inasmuch as the center about which the sole is swung during operation upon the toe is located nearer to the feed .diskwhich is farthest from the sole edge, that disk will turn the slowest (or if that disk islocated at the center of the swing it may temporarily remain substantially stationary), while the different speeds at which the intermediate disks will turn idlyvwill vary directly in ac cordance with the distance between the sevtrated machine as in the The invention further consists in features of construction and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1' is a fragmentary side elevational view of so much of a sole channeling machine as is necessary to illustrate the application of the present invention thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view, partially in vertical section and partially in side elevation, of the improved sectional feed wheel, together with associated parts of the machine;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 4; and 5 are sectional perspective views of different portions of the mechanism for connecting the variable speed feed disks with the feed wheel shaft.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the sole channeling machine therein illustrated comprises a lower feed wheel an upper the - feed wheel or presser roll 12; an edge gage roll 14; a channel knife 16; a presser foot 18; a frame 20; a shaft 22 fournaled in bearings in the frame 20, the shaft 22 carrying the lower feed wheel 10 and being driven continuously throughout the operation of the machine; and a head 2 1 which is movable relatively to the frame 20 and which carries the upper feed wheel 12. All of the above named parts, with the exception of the feed s Wheels 10 and 12, are the same in construction and mode of operation as corresponding parts disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,668,- 081, hereinbefore referred to, and the same mechanism may be employed in the illusmachine of said patent for driving the lower and upper feed wheel shafts 22 and 26. Accordingly, reference may be had to the said patent for details of construction not herein fully described.

The illustrated lower feed wheel 10 com prises a plurality of peripherally-toothed disks A, B, C, D and E which are arranged side-by-side at the outer end of the feed wheel shaft 22 and it is adapted to support and feed a sole by engagement with the sole margin at the flesh side. The illustrated upper feed wheel 12 comprises a single narrow disk having a smooth periphery for engagement with the grain or channeled side of the sole inside of the channel lip. As

shown, the upper feed Wheel 12 is mounted to turn idly upon a stud 78 carried by the head 24.

The lower feed wheel 10 is composed of a plurality of 'disks A, B, C, D and E, constructed and arranged as hereinafter described, for the purpose of facilitating the feeding of soles along more or less sharply curved marginal portions thereof, without injury to the portions of the soles engaged by the feed wheel. As shown, the feed disk E is arranged nearer to the edge gage roll 14, and consequently is adapted to engage the sole margin nearer to the sole edge than the other disks, and the disk E is secured in fixed relation to the shaft 22 so that it is positively and continuously driven at a constant speed while the machine is in operation. To this end the constant speed feed disk E is secured by screws to the side of a disk 32 which, in turn, is fixed to the shaft 22 by means of keys 3 1 so that the disk E is continuously and positively driven during the operation of the machine. The 'disk 32 is formed with a smooth periphery of slightly less diameter than that of the other disks, the disk 32 serving to support the extreme marginal portion of a sole without, however, exerting any positive feeding action upon it. The screws 30 serve also to secure to the disk 32 a gear 36 which drives the edge gage roll 14, the teeth of the gear 36 meshing for this purpose with gear teeth 38 formed on the gage roll. 7

The variable speed feed disks A, B, C and D are normally connected to turn forwardly with the feed wheel shaft, and in unison with the constant speed feed disk E, but the variable speed disks are adapted to turn freely in a forward direction at different variable speeds, greater than the speed of the shaft 22, to accommodate themselves to the increased speed of travel of the portions of the sole margin engaged thereby while channeling along the sole near an inwardly curved portion of the sole edge. The feed disks A, B, C and D are furthermore adapted to be disconnected from the feed roll shaft 22 by. the operator so that they may turn idly with the work at variable speeds less than the speed of the shaft 22 as the portions engaged thereby travel more slowly than the port-ion engaged by the feed disk E during operation around the toe or along other outwardly curved portions of a sole margin.

To enable the feed disks A, B, C and D to operate as above described, they are severally mounted upon a sleeve 10 between the feed disk E and a small outer disk 89 which is secured, by a screw 41, to the outer end of the shaft 22. The sleeve 10 is adapted to turn upon a bushing 12 that is fast on the shaft 22 and the sleeve 10 is adapted to be connected with and disconnected from the shaft 22 by means of a clutch comprising clutch members (Fig. 2) secured or teeth 43 (Fig. 5), formed on the inner end of the sleeve 40, and co-operating clutch members or teeth 44 formed on a sliding clutch sleeve 46 on the shaft 22. The clutch sleeve 46 is normally maintained with its teeth 44 in driving engagement with the teeth 43 on the sleeve by means of a coiled spring 48 encircling the shaft 22 between one end of a bearing 50 in the frame 20 and the bottom of a socket 52 formed in one end of the clutch sleeve 46. The clutch sleeve 46 is adapted to be moved to disengage the sleeve 40 from the shaft 22 by means of an arm 54 to a rockshaft 56 suitably mounted in the frame 20. The arm 54 is forked at its upper end to straddle the clutch sleeve 46 and the forked ends of the arm 54 are provided with pins 58 which are received in an annular groove 60 in the exterior of the sleeve 46. An arm 62 secured to the rockshaft 56 may be connected by a rod 64 with a treadle or operating handle '(not shown) by means of which the operator may move the clutch sleeve 46.

The means which enables the variable speed feed disks A, B, C and D to turn forwardly at different speeds from the speed of the shaft 22 consists of a one-way ratchet-and-pawl clutch mechanism comprising ratchet teeth formed on the outer periphery of the sleeve 40 and a plurality of pawls 72 one of which is carried by each of the disks A, B, C and D. As shown, each pawl 72 is pivoted to its respective feed disk and is located within a recess therein (such as the recess 74 Fig. 4). Suitable springs 76 are provided for pressing the 'pawls 7 2 against the teeth 70. The arrangement of the pawls 72 and the shape of the ratchet and teeth 70 are such that when operating along a substantially straight portion of a sole margin the feed disks A, B, C and D will be turned forwardly, in unison with the shaft 22 and the feed disk E, but the disks A, B, C and D are free to be turned forwardly by the work itself at a speed greater than the speed of the feed disk E whenever such action is necessary to accommodate the swing of the work.

The above-described ratchet-ancbpawl mechanism together with the clutch mechanism connecting the sleeve 40 with theshaft 22 constitute means which is normally operative to turn the variable speed disks A, B, C and D at the same speed as the constant speed disk E but which enables the disks A, B, C and D to turn independently of one another at different speeds either faster or slower than the speed of the disk E as may be necessary to accommodate inward and outward swinging of a sole to maintain the sole margin in the desired relation to the channel knife. The means just referred to is adjustable by the operator while the machine is running to enable the variable speed disks to turn slower than the constant speed disk, this adjustment being effected by manual operation of the clutch sleeve 46.

The head 24 is adapted to be swung upwardly to raise the feed wheel 12, together with the presser foot 18 and the channel knife 16, to facilitate insertion of the work. A sole to be channeled is placed, grain side uppermost, upon the lower feed wheel 10 with the sole edge against the gage roll 14, after which the head 24 is lowered to engage the upper feed wheel, the presser foot and the channel knife with the work. The machine is then started in operation and as the channeling progresses along a subtsantially straight portion of the sole margin, as along the sides of the shank or forepart, all of the feed disks A, B, C, D and E are positively driven at the same speed, each of them co-operating with the others to feed the work. At portions of the sole margin where the edge is in the form of an inward or reentrant curve the feed disks A, B, C and D are free to turn at a greater speed than that of the feed disk E by reason of their engagement with portions of the sole margin that are. spaced inwardly from the sole edge and that consequently travel faster than the edge portions as the sole is swung laterally to maintain its edge in proper relation to the edge gage of the machine. This turning ofthe feed disks A, B, C and .D faster than the disk E is permitted by the ratchet-and-pawl connection between the former disks and thesleeve 40, and during such time the work is being fed positively by the action of the feed disk E. At portions of the sole margin where the edge is outwardly curved as, for example, at the toe, the. operator, by throwing out the clutch connecting the sleeve 40 with the shaft 22, may disconnect the feed disks A, B, C and D from the shaft. This will permit the disk A, which is farthest from the sole edge to "turn as slowly as necessary to accommodate the swinging movement of the sole, or to remain substantially stationary if the axis of swinging movement intersects the said disk. The ratchet-and-pawl connections between the sleeve 40 and the disks B, C and D enables these disks to turn at speeds progressively faster than the speed of rotation of the disk A, but slower than the speed of the positively driven disk E, thus enabling the said disks B, G and D, as well as the disk A, to turn idly with the work, accommodating themselves to the swing of the sole and in suring against possible injury to the sole such as would result if these disks were positively driven at speeds different from the speeds at which the portions of the sole engaged thereby are traveling. After the channeling has proceeded to a point beyond the toe and a substantially straight portion of the margin is reached, the operator may throw in the clutch connecting the sleeve 40 with the shaft whereupon the ratchet-andpawl mechanism will immediately become effective to establish positive driving connections with the feed disks A, B, C and D and these disks, as well as the disk IE, will then be positively driven and all the disks will turn at the same speed.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a feed wheel comprising a plurality of feeding sections, one of which is arranged for engagement with the outer marginal portion of a sole and is driven throughout the operation of the machine, and another of which is capable of turning movement in either direction relatively to said driven section and is arranged to engage the sole margin farther from the edge of the sole than said driven section.

2. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a feed wheel comprisng plurality of feeding sections, one of which is arranged for engagement wit-lithe outer marginal portion of a sole and is positively driven throughout the operation of the machine, and another of which is capable of idle turning movement in either direction relatively to said driven section and is arranged to engage the sole margin farther from the edge of the sole than said driven section.

3. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a feed wheel comprising a plurality of feeding sections, one of which is arranged for engagement with the outer marginal portion of a sole and is adapted to be driven at a constant speed throughout the operation of the machine, and another of which is adapted to engage the sole to be driven at said constant speed but is capable of turning either faster or slower than the first section and is arranged to engage the sole margin farther from the edge of the sole than said first section.

4. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a feed wheel comprising a plurality of feeding sections, one of which is arranged for engagement wi h the outer mar ginal portion of a sole and is adapted to be driven at a constant speed throughout the operation of the machine, and another of which is adapted to be driven at said constant speed but is capable of turning slower than the first section and is arranged to engage the sole margin farther from the edge of the sole tl an said first section.

5. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a feed wheel comprising a plurality of feeding sections, one of which is arranged for engagement with the outer mar ginal portion of a sole and is driven throughout the operation of the machine, and others of which are arranged to engage the sole margin at points farther from the edge of the sole than said driven section and are capable of turning movement either forwardly or baclrwardly relatively to said driven section and relatively to each other.

6. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a shaft adapted to be continuously driven, a rotary feed member fast on said shaft and arranged for peripheral engagement with the outer marginal portion of a sole, a second rotary feed member adapted to turn relatively to the first feed member and arranged to engage the sole margin farther from the sole edge than the first feed member, and means for connecting the second feed member with said shaft and for disconnecting it therefrom at the will of the operator of the machine while the machine is running.

7. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a feed disk arranged to en- ;age the margin of a sole near the edge of the 'ole and adapted to turn at a constant speed 0 feed the sole, a plurality of feed disks aranged to engage the sole margin at points arther from the sole edge than the point ena ged by the constant speed disk and adapted 0 turn at variable speeds, and means normally operative to turn the variable speed disks at the speed as the constant speed disk, said means being adjustable while the machine is running to permit the variable speed disks to turn slower than the constant speed disk.

S. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a feed disk arranged to engage the margin of a sole near the edge of the sole and adapted to turn at a constant speed to feed the sole, a plurality of feed disks arranged to engage the sole margin at points spaced inwardly from the point engaged by the constant speed disk and adapted to turn at variable speeds, and means normally operative to turn the variable speed disks at the same speed as the constant speed disk but capable of permitting the variable speed disks to turn faster than the constant speed disk, said means being adjustable while the machine is running to permit the variable speed disks "to turn slower than the constant speed disk.

9. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a feed disk arranged to engagethe margin of a sole near the edge of the sole and adapted to turn at a constant speed to feed the sole, a plurality of feed disks arranged to engage the sole margin at points spaced inwardly from the point engaged by the constant speed disk and adapted to turn at variable speeds, and means normally operative to turn the variable speed disks at the same speed as the constant speed disk but capable of permitting the variable speed disks to turn at different speeds faster than said constant speed disk, said means being adjustable at the will of the operator to enable the variable speed disks to turn at different speeds slower than the constant speed disk.

10. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a tool for operating upon stock, a sectional feed wheel for advancing the stock to the tool, a shaft on which one of the sections of the feed wheel is fixedly secured, a sleeve on the-shaft upon which another section of the feed wheel is mounted, and a clutch for connecting the sleeve with the shaft and disconnecting it therefrom.

11. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a tool for operating upon stock, a sectional feed wheel for advancing the stock to the tool, a shaft on which one of the sections of the feed wheel is fixedly scoured, a sleeve on the shaft upon which another section of the feed wheel is mounted, a clutch for connecting the sleeve with the shaft and disconnecting it therefrom, and a one-way clutch between the sleeve and the feed wheel section mounted thereon.

12. In a machine for operating upon soles, a feed device comprising, in combination, a rotary shaft, a rotary feed disk fixedly se cured upon said shaft, a sleeve rotatably mounted upon said shaft, means for connecting said sleeve to turn with the shaft and for disconnecting the sleeve from the shaft, and a plurality of feed disks mounted on said sleeve and connected therewith for rotation in one direction in unison with the sleeve.

13. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, an operating tool, a positively driven rotary feedmember arranged to engage one face of a sole near the edge of the sole, and a second rotary feed member arranged to engage said face in a locality spaced farther from the sole edge than the locality engaged by the first feed member, the second feed member being normally driven positively but being capable of turning freely in both directions relatively to the first feed member to facilitate feeding the sole during operation upon sharply curved portions of its margin.

In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a driven rotary feed member arranged for peripheral engagement with the marginal portion of a sole, and a second rotary feed member arranged to engage the sole margin farther from the sole edge than the first feed member and normally driven at the same speed as the first feed member but capable of turning freely at different speeds in both directions to accommodate it self to the speed of the portion of the work engaged by it as the work is swung to cause the machine to operate around a curved portion of the sole margin.

15. In a machine for operating upon soles, in combination, a driven shaft, a rotary feed member fast on said shaft and arranged for peripheral engagement with the outer mar- AUGUSTUS D. VVILLHAUCK. 

